Working in the council's Communications Team means I get to know all about what is happening across the city and in a place like Brighton & Hove that involves a lot of really interesting things.

I completed my journalism qualification at Lambeth College in London. Once a week I would go up to
college where I learnt about media law, public affairs, court reporting,
shorthand, video production and much more.

I am also an Apprentice Ambassador at the council. We visit
schools and events to talk to students, parents, teachers and employers to
promote apprenticeships. This has helped me to improve my public speaking as I had never given a
presentation on my own to such large audiences. I also help to run the ambassadors blog, Twitter page and
Facebook page. This involves finding and creating content to post and being able to answer any questions we get from the public about apprenticeships.

This apprenticeship has been an amazing opportunity for me.
I’ve learnt loads of new skills and met some great people. Not only this, but I
also have a recognised qualification and two years’ work experience.

I’m excited to be able to put everything I’ve gained from my apprenticeship to
good use in the future.

There is currently a vacancy in the Communications Team for a Digital Marketer Apprentice. Find more info on the council website.

Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Charlie takes us on a journey from guitar wielding graduate to apprentice parking officer.
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'being an apprentice has opened a
door for me'

Apprenticeship: Apprentice Parking Officer

Qualification: Level 3 Business Administration

Training Provider: GB MET

Team: Parking Services

Like a lot of people I left school and had no idea what I wanted to do career-wise. After studying ICT for three tears at South Essex College, I dabbled in web design before falling into retail where I stayed for ten years. I hadn't envisaged staying in retail for so long, and by the end of my last contract I had become complacent and desperately in need of a change.

I went back to studying, this time an Access Course in Music, which was a stepping-stone to a degree in Music at the University of Chichester. I had a great time at University, but in between playing gigs and writing coursework, I worried about what I would do afterwards. After graduating with a 2:1, I had to move back in with my parents who had recently relocated to the Isle of Wight. There wasn't really anywhere for me to stay, so I had to make do with a caravan in the bottom of the garden; where I stayed for over half a year. Although I enjoyed being with my parents again, those months put a complete halt on my momentum. My girlfriend now lived over a 100 miles away on the mainland and making a regular income from music was difficult.

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After moving to Brighton, I worked two jobs with unpredictable hours and ended up selling 80% of my belongings in order to make ends meet. This precarious way of living became tiring and asking our parents for money each month became uncomfortable. After applying for administration jobs for months it became clear that my lack of proper experience was a stumbling block. I'd worked hard at college and university and had several qualifications but employers were reluctant to hire someone with little office experience. Whilst on another disheartening job search, I came across the Apprentice Parking Officer role. At first I had doubts about being an apprentice, and like a lot of people, I had misconceptions about what it would be like. Would the money be enough? Could a graduate apply?

After doing some research I found that I could make more money being an Apprentice at BHCC than I had when I worked in a supermarket. The government had also recently changed the rules for degree holders, which that graduates could now do apprenticeships. It therefore seemed like the ideal way to break out of the 'no experience' cycle and so I applied and got the job.

Now I get to do an interesting job, learn and still do music stuff. It was a big step up and way out. I'm far happier with my life - being an apprentice has opened a door for me, no doubt.

Charlie started his Apprenticeship in July 2017 and will complete in December 2018. You can check out his amazing guitar skills on YouTube. Search 'Charlie Keynton'.

Friday, 11 August 2017

I am currently in the first
year of my apprenticeship at the council where I am studying for a level 4
diploma in business administration alongside my job role as a Project Support
Officer.

After my GCSEs, I went to college
and studied for my A-levels. I didn’t really enjoy college and I began to hate
studying. Whilst I was in college, I also had a part time job on Saturdays and
Sundays which equalled to 16 hours across the weekend. This became very
difficult as I felt I was working 7 days a week and had little time to myself.
Therefore, after I completed my A-levels I decided to try something different
and do an apprenticeship rather than take the traditional route of going to
university.

Since starting my apprenticeship,
I am really enjoying not having the pressure of remembering every little detail
from a textbook and I am starting to figure things out for myself by learning
actively. I also enjoy working full time Monday to Friday with the weekends off
to relax and spend time with my family and friends.

I am gaining brilliant
experience and skills by completing my course but also my team is working on
lots of projects so I am gaining some really good experience in project work by
supporting the project managers. One of the projects I am currently working on
is the Brighton Town Hall refurbishments due to take place next year. We need
to be prepared in terms of logistics, such as where we will move the current
staff in the building during the works and who will move back in after it’s
completed. We also have to think about storing furniture and equipment. This is
brilliant for me because it gives me the opportunity to keep my options open.

Before I started my
apprenticeship I was unsure on what I wanted to do, but now I feel I have a
couple of paths that I can pursue in the future to make a career, and I’ve only
been in my role for a month!

I look forward to seeing what
else I am able to get involved with.

Ella started her Apprenticeship in June 2017 and will complete in December 2018.

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Georgia Easteal is currently working as a Re-Housing Administrator at Brighton & Hove City Council and she is doing a Level 3 Digital Business apprenticeship along side.This is her story...

After Georgia left school when she was 16 she knew that college was not the path for her. She decided to look into other options that would help her get on the road to a new career.

After looking around at her options and several interviews, Georgia decided to apply for an apprenticeship at Brighton & Hove City Council as a Level 2 Business Administration apprentice in the Transport Projects team.

Here she learnt the essential administration and office skills that would assist her in any future job role. Furthermore she got the chance to work on major projects within the city, such as the Brighton & Hove Bike Share, which broadened her knowledge on how projects are managed. As well as these skills she also built up key relationships with colleagues in the organisation.

Whilst doing her apprenticeship Georgia became an apprentice ambassador. This involved visiting schools and going to events where she would promote apprenticeships not only within the council but also across Brighton & Hove.

After Georgia completed her apprenticeship she decided she liked working with the council and so wanted to stay. A job opened up in the Post 16 Development Team for a Level 3 Digital Business apprentice. As she had enjoyed her role as an apprentice ambassador Georgia went for the job and got it.

Her new apprenticeship involved visiting schools just like the ambassadors did but she now also got to set up her own events, including a speed dating event where local employers met young people interested in doing apprenticeships and they could do practice interviews and the young people had the opportunity to give their CVs to the employers.

As Georgia was still doing her level 3 apprenticeship she saw that a vacancy had become available in the Housing Team at the council. Georgia had been interested in working in this department for a while but thought she would only look into it after her apprenticeship was over. However, she decided to apply for this job just to see if they were interested and to get some interview practice in case she did want to apply for a job in housing at a later time.

At the interview she explained how she was doing her apprenticeship and would like to continue doing this if they did accept her for the role.

A few weeks later Georgia heard back from the interviewees and they wanted to hire her!

They had been impressed with the experience she had gained during her apprenticeships and wanted her to join the team. Even though Georgia would need day release every so often for her college course they were happy to take her on as a full time employee.

Georgia is now a few months into her job as a Re-Housing Administrator and is really enjoying it. She said:

“My journey as an apprentice has really helped me get my foot in the door.

“It’s hard work doing an apprenticeship alongside a full time job but I am enjoying the challenge and the responsibility this has given me.”

Thursday, 11 May 2017

Listen to Fifi Bula, an Apprentice Business Support Administrator for ICT Schools, and Hannah Cydnie, an Apprentice Registration Officer, who are both doing Level 3 apprenticeships with Brighton & Hove City Council, talk about why they chose to do an apprenticeship and their experience in their roles.

Monday, 8 May 2017

Watch this video and find out how having an apprentice could improve your workforce.

Suzanne Charlesworth, Nursery Manager at Each Peach Childcare and Andy Parsons, Founding Director of Yelo Architects, explain the benefits of working with apprentices, training them and watching them grow.

Friday, 10 March 2017

Fifi Bula

We interviewed Fifi Bula who is an apprentice in the Education and Skills department. Read Fifi's inspirational story below.

How did you get into the apprenticeship?

I previously volunteered at City View Children Centre for
almost a year and at Brighton Job Centre for a few months, at the end of my
volunteering period at the Job Centre my advisor suggested I searched for
apprenticeship roles in administration. I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical
about the idea but decide to give it a try. I went on the council website and
came across a Level 2 in Business administration. I applied for my role with
very little knowledge and a lot of misconceptions on apprenticeships. But after
reading the job’s description for the role, I believed it to be suitable for
me.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your apprenticeship
so far?

Fifi with the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills at the House of Commons for National Apprenticeship Week 2017

During my period of unemployment I remembered how I would
constantly remind myself that I need to find a fulfilling job, not a ‘dead-end
job ‘ or something simply to make ends meet. As a mother, providing for my
children is crucial but I remember the following quote by Steve Jobs “The only
way to do great work is to love what you do”. I felt very comfortable in my new
role as an apprentice as some of the tasks were quite similar to those in my
previous volunteering roles. I am extremely lucky to be working with some amazing
people. In my role I support my manager providing services to schools and
liaise between Schools and the Service providers. I work in a dynamic and often
very demanding environment but the support from my mangers, colleagues and my
assessor from City College has been extraordinary, I have now completed my
Level 2 Business administration and I am progressing onto Level 3. Onwards and
upwards!

What are the rewards of doing an apprenticeship?

My apprenticeship has helped me develop skills such as oral
and written communications skills; I have learnt to balance and manage workload
and mainly to prioritise. I do love being a mother but I believe to be so much
more and through my apprenticeship I’ve found
a new sense of purpose , providing
services to schools all through the city makes me feel valuable and reinforce a sense of belonging. It’s
a privilege to be able to work while learning; gaining a qualification while
earning a living. It’s a win - win situation and the feeling and satisfaction
it brings is indescribable.

Would you recommend apprenticeships to others?

I would definitely recommend ‘Apprenticeships’ and certainly
advocate to others. Through my work I have met others apprentices who have
accomplished amazing things and many who are on their way to achieving their
goal and realising their dreams. I have
not decided what my next step will be but I am enjoying the journey so far. Working
full time and being a single parent can be challenging but with the right
support system, I now realised that when I started my apprenticeship I was far
from understanding what I was getting myself into… I underestimated where my
apprenticeship could take me. I realised
that I can exceed my own expectations, sky’s the limit!